Jointer-knife setting tool



Aug 17, 1965 A. L. RlvARD 3,200,507

JOINTER-KNIFE SETTING TOOL Filed April 9, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l III',

1N VEN TOR.

All@ 107, l955 A. L. RIVARD 3,200,507

JOINTER-KNIFE SETTING TOOL Filed April 9, 1966I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR United States Pattern;V O

3,260,507 .IGINTER-KNIFE SETTING TOL Alfred L. Rivard, 632 New Haven Ave., Milford, Coun.

Filed Apr. 9, 1963, Ser. No. 271,723

12 Claims. tCl. 33-185) This invention relates to knife-setting tools or jigs, and more particularly to magnetic tools of this type, for setting the knives of a rotary cutter head in a jointer.

The task of installing either new or else resharpened knives in their proper operating positions on the cutter head of a jointing machine is in general tedious and time consuming. In addition to this it often happens that the individual knives remain incorrectly positioned even after painstaking eort has been exerted. On this latter point it is to be noted that exact positioning and alignment of the individual knives is quite essential in obtaining quality work in production quantities from such machines.

The present invention 'overcomes the disadvantages and drawbacks of prior devices intended to facilitate the setting of individual knives on the cutter head, and one object of the invention is to provide an improved and unique magnetic type jointer-knife setting tool which constitutes, by the use of simple structures, a positive means of locating successive knives of a cutter head on the periphery thereof at exactly identical distances from the axis of rotation and in accurate parallelism with each other and with said axis.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved magnetic vtype jointer-knife setting tool which is eflicient and reliable in enabling the rotary knives to be accurately set.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved jointer-knife setting tool as above set forth, which enables the knives to be rapidly positioned and set, in an especially easy manner.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel tool of the kind outlined, which is so constituted that its use and operation may be easily and quickly understood even by lay persons, and wherein the least possible amount of skill is required to effect accurate knife settings.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved tool in accordance with the foregoing, which has relatively few parts or components of simple construction, which may be economically assembled and fabricated.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of an improved setting tool of the type characterized, which is relatively small, compact and light in weight while at the same time being of rugged construction and not likely to fail or malfunction.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of a novel construction of knife-setting-tool Wherein nesting and intertting parts are so arranged as to enable their quick and foolproof assembly to be elected, all

without risk of dislodgement of the parts from their op-t Y in by the use of a simple vacuum-formed plastic piece there is had a combination housing, cover means, positioning means and guide means directly and .advantageously related toY or associated with the remainder of the components ofthe tool.

3,200,507 Patented Aug. 17, 1965 Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear, and with the foregoing and other objects in view I have devised a specific construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, as being exemplary of the tool but not restrictive. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specic details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention and claims.

In the drawings accompanying this speciiication, similar characters of reference are used to designate like components throughout the several views, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the improved jointer-knife setting tool as provided by the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the knife-setting tool.

FIG. 3 is a front end elevational view of the tool.

FIG. 4 is a rear end elevational View of the tool.

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the tool, taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 6 6 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 7-7 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a transverse sectional View taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional View taken on the line 9 9 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view of a jointer, showing the front and rear tables, a portion of the rotary cutter head and knives, and showing in side elevation a setting tool in operative position, as provided by the invention.

Referring now particularly to the gures, the setting tool of the invention is seen to be in the form of a thin or low composite slab of generally rectangular configuration. Due to its small size and compactness, the setting tool is easily handled and positioned. The positioning and holding of the tool, as well as the positioning and holding of a cutter knife, is effected magnetically by permanent magnet units or blocks of high coercive force, arranged in pairs and in conjunction with flux-conducting yoke means, such blocks being wholly enclosed (as well as the pole pieces thereof) and yet exerting powerful attractive forces on external magnetic objects such as the jointer table and the individual knives, to provide a wholly adequate combined attraction and positioning action.

By virtue of the enclosed construction whereby smooth and'relatively unbroken exterior surfaces devoid of pole pieces as such are provided, the tool may be readily cleaned and kept clean by simply wiping with a cloth or the like, and magnetic particles, steel shavings, filings, etc., will not be so likely to contact and adhere to the permanent magnet components.

. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tool comprises a nonmagnetic metal base plate Ztl of substantially rectangular configuration, which is received and nestedin a rectangular peripheral portion 22 of a non-magnetic (and preferably thermoplastic) cover or housing member designated generally by the reference numeral 24 in FIG. 1. -In addition to the nesting engagement of the base plate 2t) in the housing or cover member 24, securement of these two components to each other may be effected by the use of suitable cement at different individual points or coengaging surfaces, or else other fastening means such as rivets, eyelets, etc., may be utilized.

The cover or housing member 24 may be advantageously fabricated as a vacuum forming, of a'suitable thermoplastic substance, and is so arranged as to provide above the upper surface of the base plate 20 a space 26 l'of small height and appreciable area, having enlargeving magnetic poles at their opposite broad sides as Vindicated by the letters N and S. The permanent magnet Y of they magnet blocks y32, 34. I

The housing member 24 has raised nesting portions 36,- 38 and 40, 42 which accommodate respectively the magnut is prevented during loosening and tightening of the locking screw 72. Y

net blocks 28, 30 and 32, .34, positioning such blocks Y against shifting edgewise. Moreover, the base plate Z as seen in FIGS. 6 and 8 veffectively retains the magnet blocks 28-34 in the nesting portions of the cover piece 24, whereby the blocks are positively secured against shifting or dislodgement.

It will be seen that the base plate 20 acts asy a cover for the lower polar surfaces of the magnet blocks 28-34. Also, the said base plate provides a surface which is adapted to engage the rear jointer table 46 of the machine, as seen in FIG'. 10. Additionally, thebase plate 20 provides a surface for engagement by a cutter knife such as the knife 4S shown in FIG. 10, which is carried by the rotary cutter head 50.

In accordance with the invention, to obtainthe maximum magnetic attractive force at the undersurface of the tool for use in conjunction with the jointer table 46 and the knife 48 (or successive knives suchras the knife 52 shown in FIG. magnetic yoke pieces S4 and 56 (see FIGS. 6 andV 8)y are provided for engagement with the uppermost polar surfaces of the magnet blocks. The cover or housing member 24 has raised portions 53 and which accommodate and nest the yoke strips 54 and 56, these latter being preferably formed of soft steel or the like. Theyoke pieces 54, 56 provide an eflicient path for ilux whereby the magnet blocks 28-34 have an additive effect in producing a strong vmagnetic attraction at the bottom side of the basey plate 20.

It will be seen that the north and south polar areas of the magnet blocks have a relatively'large surface, and the blocks have relatively small height whereby powerful coercive forces exist. The combined forces of the magnets as paired result in a strong and effective mag netic attraction which is not only able to strongly hold the tool in place on the rear jointer table 46 as illus-v trated in FIG. 10, but also sufficiently strong to pull upward and to position a loose cutter knife 48, also as illustrated.

I attribute this to the structure, disposition and number of permanent magnet blocks, as well as thevprovision of the yoke pieces, in accordance with the illustrated structures in the figures.

By the present invention, a novel vandunique Vcombined adjustable table stop, locking means therefor and knife stop is'carried by the base plate 20, by which thev tool may be easily properly positioned on the rear jointer table 46 and by which the individual cutter knives carried by the rotary cutter head 50 may be accurately positioned so that thecutting edges are all accurately in parallelism with each otherA and with the axis of the cutter head, as well as being located latfidentical distances from the cutter axis. The said positioning and stop meansl comprises a stop arm 64 having a depending endportion or extremity 66 which'extends through a rectangular slot 68 in the base plate 20; The major portion ofthe stop arm 64 is disposed above the base plate 2t), and such portion has a slot 70 through which a lock- .ing screw 72 extends (see FIG. 6) 'said screw also passing through an Vopening lin the base plate 2t) whereby the head 74 of the screw projects or protrudes from the undersurfagce of the plate. 'The screwY 72 carries a nut 76 above the Vstop arm 64, which is preferably of square configuration and closely confined between the magnet blocks 28, 30kas seen in FIG. 6, whereby turning of the4 By the above construction, the depending stop portion 66 of the arm 64 may be shifted longitudinally of the base plate 20, so as to be brought either nearer to or further from the magnet assembly comprising the magnet blocks 28, 30. While such shifting adjustablyspositions the stop portion or lug 66, the screw head 74 is not shifted in its position, and this is of importance inasmuch as such screw head constitutes a positioning or stop means arranged forv engagement with the cutter knives 48, 52 carried by the cutter head 50. This is clearly shown in FIG. 10, for example. It will be observed from this figure that the stop 66 of the arm 64 has been brought into engagement with the front edge 78 of theV rear jointer table 46, and this may place the screw head 74 alittle forward of the axis of the rotary cutter head 5t) whereby such axis is directly below the rear side surface of the screw head. This relative positioning of the parts is effected by proper adjustable positioning lof the stop arm 64 prior Yto application of the tool to the jointer'machine, as will be readily understood. v.The positioning is such thatwhen the cutter knife 48 is raised by the. magnetic attraction ofthe magnet blocks 28, 30, the forwardV or Y,

cutting edge of; the knife may be brought into engagement with the rear side of the screw head 74 by a suitable turning of the cutter head 50.

The adjustment procedure involving the tool may beV advantageously carried out by referring to the following,

which constitutes a briefY generalized description of the knife forward, approaching the position illustrated. Just prior to the loosened knife reaching this position, thev magneticattraction provided by the magnet blocks 23,

30 will pull the knife upward and into engagement with the bottom surface of the base plate 20. Continued movement of the cutter'head 5t) will now advance the raised knife in a' forward direction until it engages the rear side surface of the screw head 74, as depicted. When this occurs, the knife 48 will have been properly positioned in parallelism with the axis of the cutter head $2, and the locking screw 8G associated with the knife may be tightened. Repetition of this setting process with the next or succeeding knife will effect a similar accurate positioningof the same in parallelism with the first adjustedV knife, and with the axis lof thepcutter head S2, and

of the knife at exactly the same distancefrorn the cutter Vhead axis whichrexists for the first adjusted knife.

Referring to FIG. 1, thecover orV housing member 24k has centrally located raised portions 84 and 86 to providel mally in contact with such guide portion. This constitutes one of the features of the invention.

Since there exist different makes and sizes of jointers, the adjustability provided by the slide arm 64 is of importance. A more detailed explanation of the adjustment of this arm and-of theknives now follows. Due tothe various styles and sizes of jointers, it is necessary to accurately set and Y lock the stop arm 64 in the proper position for the partic- 'ular machine in which the new or re-sharpened knives are it will also accurately position the forward cutting edge n to be installed. T o do this most effectively, raise the rear table 46 to its topmost position. On some jointers this table is stationary at this position, in which case this step is not possible. Now measure the distance between the pointed edge of the knife 48, when it is at the highest point of its arc, and the end 78 of the jointer table 46. This may be done either before removing the old knives, or if they have already been removed, it can be done by inserting one knife in any given knife slot in the cutter head 50 at approximately its proper position and tightening the set screws 80 just enough to hold the knife temporarily for the measuring operation. J ot down the measurement arrived at bythe above process. Loosen the locking screw 72 about one-quarter turn, and position the protruding end 66 of the stop arm 64 as near to the locking screw 72 as allowed by its travel via the slot 68 in base plate 2t). Place a -ruler or scale on the base plate 20 in such a way that the measuring edge is alongside the screw head 74 and the end of the scale is against the inner side of the stop lug 66, this being the side nearest the screw 72. Slide the scale so as to shift the stop arm 64 along its path of travel, using the end of the scale. When the distance between the inner side of the stop lug 66 and the Iscrew head 74 is equal to the measurement arrived at by the above described process, tighten the screw, thereby locking the stop arm 64 at the proper position for use with the particular jointer.

FIG. l in the drawings shows the tool performing the knife-setting operation on a jointer. The text that follows will explain in greater detail this opera-tion. If the rear table 46 is movable, raise it to the topmost position. On some jointers, such as the one in this drawing, it is necessary to lower the front or feed table 47 to its maximum depth in order to obtain accessto the knife locking screws 80 when the cutter head 50 is positioned with any given knife edge at the highest point of its arc. Insert all knives and filler strips in their respective knife slots within the cutter head 50 andallow them to drop completely to the bottom of the slots. AsV this is being performedeach knife and filler strip should be secured in this position with the locking screws 80, using just enough force to prevent them from falling when the cutter head 50 is rotated by hand. With the knives and filler strips lightly secured and with the tool properly adjusted to the particular jointer in which the' new or resharpened knives are to be installed, the actual setting operation may now be performed.

Select the first knife to be set, loosen the knife locking screws 80 and position the cutter head 50 so that this knife is approximately even with the end 78 of the table 46. Position the tool with the stop lug 66 butted against end 78 of the table and so that the locking screw 72 is suspended over theV cutter head 50. Slowly rotate the cutter head by hand in a forward direction until the knife edge contacts both the base plate and the locking screw head 74. When the knife comes into the magnetic field of the magnets it-will be drawn up to the base plate by magnetism. Now tighten the knife Ilocking screws 80 and remove the tool. The knife will now be set in its proper operating position. Repeat lthese steps with each knife on the cutter head, and the setting operation will be completed.

It will now be understood from the foregoing that I have provided a novel and improved jointer-k-nife setting tool having numerous advantages. The tool is small and compact, light in weight, and easily handled and used. Relatively little skill is required in the use of the tool, it being merely necessary to properly set the stop arm 64 and thereafter apply the tool in the manner indicated in FIG. 10 to the jointer machine. The magnetic holding means facilitates the positioning of the tool on the machine, and aids in properly adjusting the cutter knives. Relatively few components are involved in the construction, and the nesting and interlocking arrangement reduces the assembly cost as well as effectively preventing shifting or dislodgement of the components after assembly. The set-ting tool may be economically fabricated, resulting in a low cost while at the same time it is reliable and rugged in construction.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claims, and portions of the improvement may be used without others.

I claim:

1. A jointer knife setting tool comprising, in combination:

(a) a base member,

(b) means on the base member, for positioning it over the jointer table to overhang the edge of the latter which is disposed adjacent the cutter head, said means including an adjustable stop arm having a portion projecting from the base member,

(c) adjustment means, including a locking screw having a protruding head, for holding the stop arm in different adjusted positions on the base member, and

(d) a stop on the base'member, engageable with a knife carried by the cutter head to position the knife and head, said stop being constituted of said locking-screw head.

l 2. A jointer knife setting tool comprising, in combinatlon:

(a) a base member,

(b) means on the base member, for positioning it over the jointer table to overhang the edge of the latter which is disposed adjacent the cutter head, said means including an adjustable stop arm having a portion projecting from the base member,

(c) adjustment means, including a locking screw having a protruding head, for holding the stop arm in different adjusted positions on the base member,

(d) a `stop on the base member, engageable with a knife carried by the cutter head to position the knife and head, said stop being constituted of said locking-screw head, and

(e) a magnetic assembly adjoining the said locking screw, for attracting and holding said knife carried by the cutter head.

3. A device as in claim`2, wherein:

(a) the base member comprises a flat plate through which the locking screw passes,

(b) a nut is provided on the inner end of the locking screw, and

(c) the magnetic assembly comprises a pair of permanent magnet blocks disposed at and engaging opposite sides of the nut to prevent the latter from turning.

4. A jointer knife setting tool comprising, in combination:

(a) a non-magnetic base plate,

(b) a low, squat non-magnetic housing mounted on the base plate and enclosing a space of small height and appreciable area directly over the base plate,

(c) a spaced pair of permanent magnet assemblies carried in said enclosed space, presenting spaced poles at the upper, enclosed side of the base plate to attract magnetic objects at the under side of the base plate, and

(d) adjustable positioning means on the base plate, for

engagement with a table and knife of a jointer to effect adjustable positioning of -said knife.

5. A jointer knife setting tool comprising, in combination:

(a) a non-magnetic base member,

(b) spaced pairs of spaced permanent-magnet blocks in the form of slabs having opposite poles at their opposite broad sides, said blocks being carried by said base member and being disposed in a common plane parallel to the base member, the blocks of each pair being arranged to present opposite polarities at a given side of said plane,

(c) magnetic yoke means carried by the base member and comprising at least one thin magnetic plate engaged with corresponding ends of opposite polarity of the magnet blocks, to provide flux paths therebetween,

(d) means on said base member, providing a smooth acaso? flat surface overlying all those broad polar. sides of lthe magnet blocks which are remote from the said yoke means, to prevent magnetized particles from clinging to and in direct contact with the said broad' .polar sides, Y

(e) means on said base member, providing ynests in which the permanent-magnetblocks are received and by which they are positioned, s

(f) means on the base member, for positioning it over the jointer table to overhang the edge of the latter which is disposed adjacent the cutter head, said means including an adjustable stop arm having a portion projecting from the base member,

(g) adjustment means, including a locking screw having a protruding head,'for holding the stop arm in different adjusted positions on the base member,

(h) a stop on the base member, engageable with a knife Vcarried -by the cutter head tov Iposition the knife and head, said stop being constituted of said lockingn screw head,

(i) said -base member comprising a iiat plate through which the locking screw passes, and

. (j) a nut on the inner end ofthe Vlocking screw, said nut being'disposed between and engaged by two permanent-magnet blocks to prevent it from turning.

.6. A jointer knife setting tool comprising, in combination:

, (a) a non-magnetic base member,

Y V(b) spaced pairs of spaced permanent-magnet blocks in the form of slabs having opposite poles at their opposite broad sides, said blocks being carried by said base member and being disposed in a common plane parallel to the base member, the blocks of each pair being arranged to present opposite polarities at a given side of said plane,

(c) magnetic yoke meansy carried by the base member and comprising at least one thin magnetic plate engaged with correspondingends of lopposite polarity of the magnet blocks, to provide flux paths therebetween, Y Y

(d) means on said base member, rproviding a smooth flat surface overlying all those broad polar sides of the magnet blocks which are remote from the said yoke means, to prevent magnetized particles` from clinging to and in direct contact withthe said broad polar sides, i n

(e) means on said base member, provlding nests 1n which the permanent-magnet blocks are received' and by which they are positioned,

(f) a slidable stop arm carried by the. base member and adjustably positionable thereon, and

(g) the nest-providing means has portions providing a nest which receives, guides and backs up the said stop arm, preventing bending of the same.

7. A jointer knife setting tool comprising, in combination:

(a) a'base member, w i

(b) a pair of magnetic assemblies carried in spaced relation by the basev member and both producing magnetic force atl one side of thefmemberfor at-V tracting respectively the jointer t-a-bleand a jointer knife carried by the cutter head, p

. 8 Y (c) a table stop carried bythe base member .intermediate the magnetic assemblies, for engagement with an edge of the jointer table, to position the tool on the same, Y Y (d) said base member having means engageable with a magnetically` attracted jointer knife, to position the latter with respectfto the table, (e) the table stop comprises an arm Vslidahly mounted on the base member, and Y (f) the knife-positioning means additionally comprisesV a locking device for securing the arm in different adjusted positions.

8. A device as in claim 7, wherein:

(-a) the locking device comprises a screw having a is engageable with the said knife. Y v .g 9. A device as in claim 2, wherein: (a) the magneticr assembly comprises permanent mag nets disposed on opposite sides of the locking screw,

and comprises a metal yoke strip extending between and connecting the magnets, said yoke stripV beingV disposed beyond the inner end of the locking screw and said screw having a nut disposed between the magnets.

10. A device as in clairn'l, wherein:

(a) the base member comprises a at plate having a slot in it, and 'i (b) the adjustable stop arm is'd-isposed above thebase plate and the projecting portion thereof extends downward through the'said slot, said stop arm having a slot through whichthe locking screw extends. Y11.. A device as in claim 2 wherein: (a) the base member comprises a non-magnetic plate through which thelocking screw extends, and (b) the magnetic assembly comprises a pair of permanent magnets disposed on opposite sides of the locking screw and located wholly above the base plate,` Y Y y (c) the head of the locking screw beingv disposed below the base plate. 12. A device as in claim 4, wherein: (a) the base plate is of metal, and (b) the housing is of plastic substance, lsaid* housing Vbeing formed to receive and confine the base plate and being cemented thereto.

' References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 536,103 3/95 Snyder et al. 33 185 f 2,448,692 9/48 Testor.

2,510,648 6/50 Moholy-Nagy 317-159 '2,589,865 3/52 Tward 33-185 l 2,641,847 6/53 McCormick 33--185 2,700,993v 2/55 Pence 33-201 X v2,747,291 5/56 Snyder 33-185 2,891,317 6/59. Wood 33-185 2,922,933v l/60 Mouer et al. S17-159 rsAAousANN, Primary Examiner.

head which protrudes from the, base member and 

1. A JOINTER KNIFE SETTING TOOL COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION: (A) A BASE MEMBER, (B) MEANS ON THE BASE MEMBER, FOR POSITIONING IT OVER THE JOINTER TABLE TO OVERHANG THE EDGE OF THE LATTER WHICH IS DISPOSED ADJACENT THE CUTTER HEAD, SAID MEANS INCLUDING AN ADJUSTABLE STOP ARM HAVING A PORTION PROJECTING FROM THE BASE MEMBER, (C) ADJUSTMENT MEANS, INCLUDING A LOCKING SCREW HAVING A PROTRUDING HEAD, FOR HOLDING THE STOP ARM IN DIFFERENT ADJUSTED POSITIONS ON THE BASE MEMBER, AND (D) A STOP ON THE BASE MEMBER, ENGAGEABLE WITH A KNIFE CARRIED BY THE CUTTER HEAD TO POSITION THE KNIFE AND HEAD, SAID STOP BEING CONSTITUTED OF SAID LOCKING-SCREW HEAD. 